InfoAnda - Obama hawks health care overhaul, citing study

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Japan's NTT to buy S.Africa IT firm Dimension Data | 15 July 2010
Indonesia quake landslide attracts voyeurs | 4 September 2009
Japanese business confidence at new low: survey | 23 March 2009

Carmakers Report 40 Percent Sales Slump In February | 4 March 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Obama hawks health care overhaul, citing study

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: Obama hawks health care overhaul, citing study By TOM RAUM,Associated Press Writer AP - Sunday, July 26 WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama, citing a new White House study suggesting that small businesses pay far more per employee for health insurance than big companies, said Saturday the disparity is "unsustainable _ it's unacceptable." ADVERTISEMENT "And it's going to change when I sign health insurance reform into law," the president said in his weekly Internet and radio address. A new study by the White House Council of Economic Advisers said small businesses pay up to 18 percent more to provide health insurance for their employees. As a result, fewer of them do so and the number has been shrinking further in these hard economic times. It was released Saturday as part of the administration's aggressive campaign to build public and congressional support for Obama's health care efforts Obama had called for Congress to vote on health legislation by the August recess, but when it became clear this week lawmakers would miss that deadline, he said he expects a bill by year-end. Separately, congressional budget scorekeepers say one highly touted idea for saving money from Medicare to finance a health overhaul would only yield modest savings. In a setback for Obama, the Congressional Budget Office says that creating a powerful commission to recommend Medicare cuts would produce only about $2 billion in savings over 10 years. Cuts the commission agreed on would go into effect unless Congress overrides them. White House budget director Peter R. Orszag said the commission's new powers would take effect in 2015, and therefore its proposed long-term savings would take more than a decade to fully materialize. The goal "was never to generate savings over the next decade," Orszag said in a statement, but the proposal could be "a game changer" in the long run if enacted. On the issue regarding small businesses, the White House study said only 49 percent of businesses with three to nine workers and 78 percent of companies with 10 to 24 workers offered any type of health insurance to their employees in 2008. In contrast, 99 percent of companies with more than 200 workers offered health insurance. Small companies pay proportionately more than big ones because they lack bargaining power and face higher administrative costs, the study found. It said that effectively levied a "heavy tax" on small businesses and their employees. "Right now, they are getting crushed by skyrocketing health care costs," Obama said, citing the report. Republicans dismissed the new report as more political propaganda by the administration as it struggles to win approval of its centerpiece domestic priority. "There's a reason why almost every employer and small business group is opposed to the Democrats' government takeover of health care, and that's because it would impose new job-killing taxes during a recession," House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said. "No report can change that." And in the weekly GOP address, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state, vice chair of the House Republican Conference, said, "America's small businesses will pay a high price." Citing a study by the National Federation of Independent Business, she said Democratic-written proposals would destroy a million more jobs than the economy has already lost. She called the Democratic efforts "a prescription for disaster _ one that will put Washington bureaucrats in charge of your family's personal medical decision." A proposal in the House calls for employers with a total payroll above $250,000 to offer health insurance to their workers or face a surtax of as much as 8 percent. A Senate committee version would require all businesses, except those with fewer than 25 employees, to provide health coverage or pay a $750 fine per year for each worker. Congress is weighing plans to bring small businesses into the program that would exempt them from such stiff penalties. Among the provisions in draft legislation viewed favorably by the administration are: an "insurance exchange" allowing small businesses that meet certain criteria to be able to purchase health insurance from a multitude of plans; and tax credits to help small businesses pay for the coverage. Christina Romer, head of the Council of Economic Advisers, said such provisions would enable small businesses to be "more able to compete with the big boys" in selling their goods and services and "able to compete fairly on a level playing field with big businesses to attract the best workers," "The vast majority of small businesses, they'll see their burdens absolutely lessened by the expansion of coverage," Romer said in a conference call with reporters. "So they are absolutely going to be more competitive." Obama decried what he said were tactics by opponents to block health care overhaul "as a way to inflict political damage on my administration. I'll leave it to them to explain that to the American people." "Today, after a lot of hard work in Congress, we are closer than ever before to finally passing reform that will reduce costs, expand coverage and provide more choices for our families and businesses," Obama said. Meanwhile, Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House Republican whip, invited small business owners from across the country to a round-table discussion with senior GOP officials on Tuesday to discuss the struggles facing small business. Among those invited, said Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring, are those with businesses in the congressional district of conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats, who have raised questions about the cost of the health care efforts. ___ Obama: http://www.whitehouse.gov GOP address: http://www.youtube.com/RepublicanConference Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: World China's gambling hub of Macau gets new leaderReuters - Sunday, July 26 Counting underway after Iraqi Kurd voteAFP - Sunday, July 26 Pakistan stretched thin for Mehsud battleAFP - Sunday, July 26 Spiralling violence unnerves Afghanistan before voteAFP - Sunday, July 26 US in diplomatic push for Mideast peaceAFP - Sunday, July 26 Most Popular – World Viewed Swine flu virus has spread to almost every country: WHO Lost love letter reunites couple after 16 years Police raid Jackson doctor for manslaughter link Massive quake moves NZealand closer to Australia Schwarzenegger defends knife-wielding Twitter video View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Sunday, 26 July 2009
Suicide bomb squad hits Afghan city: govt
US-TECH Summary
Bleriot XI marks centenary of historic flight
No change to hajj quotas with flu curbs: Riyadh
Bill Gates quits Facebook over 'too many friends'
Afghan bloodshed kills 2 NATO troops, dozen rebels
Bomb in Iraq's Falluja kills five and wounds 21
Four killed in Iraq car bombing
Iran clerics urged to 'help stop oppression'
Britain's last surviving WW1 veteran dies, aged 111 | International |
Libya asks for Lockerbie bomber to be freed | International |
Colombia says 18 rebels dead in jungle bombardment | International |
Indonesia reports first swine flu-related death: govt
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Tim Burton explores "Alice in Wonderland"
Experts: Full criminal probe in Jackson case
Counting underway after Iraqi Kurd vote
Harry Patch, last veteran of World War I trenches, dies at 111
Pakistan stretched thin for Mehsud battle
China web users outnumber US population: report
Ousted Zelaya on Honduras border, criticizes U.S. | International |
Mediterranean wildfires wreak destruction, recrimination
Wedding dance video goes viral
Spiralling violence unnerves Afghanistan before vote
Ericsson buys a North American chunk of Nortel
Britain urged to engage with Hamas moderates
Brazil, Paraguay reach historic hydroelectric deal
Lawmakers urge UK government to talk to Hamas | International |
Iraqi Kurds flock to polls amid tensions with Baghdad
Qantas jet loses air pressure during flight | International |
Iraqi Kurds end voting as feud with Baghdad looms
U.S. defence chief heads to Israel and Jordan
Thousands of China steel workers clash with police | International |
Iraqi Kurds hope for change in regional elections
Iran's opposition turns to top clerics for help
Iran opposition urge clerics to act over detainees
Maliki says arrest of US troop was mistake
US in diplomatic push for Mideast peace
Bail set at $10M for Seattle stabbing suspect
Obama hawks health care overhaul, citing study
Connecticut holds 1st exotic animal amnesty day
Kyrgyz opposition cries fraud over vote
All 13 astronauts enjoy first day off in 11 days
Pa. day care center that lost 4 kids ordered shut
Suicide attackers strike southeastern Afghan city
China says 36 schoolchildren sick with swine flu
Iraq to send students to colleges in US, abroad
China economy growing again while US limps
Pakistan court delays Mumbai attack case for month
Analysis: Race is daunting challenge for Obama
Elderly's 'only talent' is the ability to work: Japan PM
NJ mayor's arrest puts spotlight on historic city
Child's flu death sparks race tensions in Australia
Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan row over Caspian fields
ICICI Bank says quarterly profits up 20.6 percent
Tim Burton explores Alice in Wonderland | Entertainment |
Swiss Army knife morphs with age
LA octuplets to star in reality show: report
Farewell to Fleet Street
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
CORRECTED
Directors, actors geek out with fans at Comic-Con
Bayreuth opera festival opens under new directors
Chinese director Jia to make 1st big budget film
James Cameron, Peter Jackson talk future of film
British PM urges party 'discipline'
Iran opposition asks to commemorate unrest victims
Clinton urges North Korea to return to talks | International |
German firms eye brighter future: survey
U.S. tries to spur Middle East peace talks | International |
Clinton says Iran's nuclear pursuit is futile | International |
Iran hardliners say Ahmadinejad defied leader over VP
Iran opposition wants mourning ceremony
First results due Monday in Iraqi Kurd election | International |
Afghan vice-presidential candidate survives ambush | International |
Netanyahu: Israel wants 'understanding' with US
Pakistan police detain pro-Taliban cleric Mohammad | International |
U.S. tries to spur Middle East peace talks
Egypt refers Hezbollah case to emergency court | International |
Chechnya blast kills at least five: report | International |
Protesters call for end to Iranian rights abuses
France's Sarkozy taken ill while exercising | International |
Kuwait financier facing U.S. fraud suit found dead | International |
US envoy holds Syria talks amid new peace push
The Nation's weather
Ohio man routinely mistaken for famous astronaut
Kids' Roller Coaster Jumps Tracks During Church Carnival
Polarizing Alaska governor Palin steps down Sunday
Senate Approves Funds To Thwart Iranian E-Censorship
Body Surfer Killed In Rough California Waves
4 suspects detained in Mexico in US agent killing
Body Found In Grand Canyon May Be Missing College Student
President Obama Asks Harvard Professor Gates, Cambridge Cop Over For Cold One In "Near Future"
Obama Signs U.N. Convention On Rights Of Disabled Proclamation
Some incumbent senators seem to get no respect
Protestors In New York Join Those Across The Globe Marching To Protest Iran's Post-Electtion Violence
Police Get Calls From Across US Over 8-Year-Old Girl's Rape; Liberian President Outrage
Officials From U.S.-Mexico Launch Manhunt Over Killing Of Border Patrol Agent
Defense secretary scores big wins on weapons cuts
Hubble Space Telescope Captures Clear Image Of Recent Impact Site, Debris Field On Jupiter
US eyes private guards for bases in Afghanistan
Ala. senator mum on his decision about Sotomayor
Chinese real estate on mend despite downturn
James Cameron talks tech, Avatar at Comic-Con | Entertainment |
New film shows pranksters battling companies | Entertainment |
Bayreuth's 'Tristan', or Love in the GDR
Billy Joel ill, postpones 2nd upstate NY show
Cast of `Glee' spill secrets, shows second episode
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01